Wesley Corpus

Many things were thrown, but nothing touched me, till I took horse and rode to Manchester. Here I received letters from Congleton, in Cheshire, and Burslem, in Staffordshire. Part of the former ran thus:-- “August 1, 1762. “THE work of God for some time stood still here; but at the love-feast, on the 21st of March last, (glory for ever be to God!) there was an out-pouring of his Spirit among us. Five persons were assured of their acceptance with God, of whom, by his free grace, I was one; four believed he had not only forgiven their sins, but likewise cleansed them from all unrighteousness. Many more have since found him gracious and merciful: Nor is his hand yet stayed at all.” Part of the other is as follows: “BEFoRE Mr. Furz came into these parts we were biting and devouring one another; and many who once had known God, were ‘in their works denying him. The society in general was cold and dead; and only two were converted to God in a whole year. But, glory be to God, the case is now altered. Those grievances are removed. The power of God is present with us; and the fire of his love is kindled among us. We are very weak; but, blessed be God, we are all alive. Many are crying out in the bitterness of their souls, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!’ Sometimes we have had two, at other times six or seven, justified in one week; others find the very remains of sin destroyed, and wait to be filled “with all the fulness of God.’” Wed. 4.--I rode to Liverpool, where also was such a work Aug. 1762.] JOURNAL. 109 of God as had never been known there before. We had a surprising congregation in the evening, and, as it seemed, all athirst for God. This, I found, had begun here likewise in the latter end of March; and from that time it had con tinually increased, till a little before I came : Nine were justified in one hour. The next morning I spoke severally with those who believed they were sanctified. They were fifty-one in all: Twenty-one men, twenty-one widows, or married women, and nine young women or children.